Convertible chair.



C. RICK.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, I91].

Patented Jam. 21, 1919.

CHESTER RICK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate ted J an. 21, 1919.

Application filed April 25, 1917. Serial N 0. 164,408.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER RICK, a citizen of the United States, residing in Phila delphia, Pennsylvania, have invented Convertible Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to convertible chairs and the object of my invention is to provide a rocking-chair which when desired may be converted into a non-rocking chair. This object I accomplish by pivoting the rear extensions of the rockers in such a manner that they may be folded upwardly against the body of the chair, their lower ends when in the folded position forming the rear feet of the chair and preventing any rocking motion.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a chair embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the chair, showing the rear extensions of the rockers folded back;

Fig. 3 is a view in section of a portion of the rocker, showing the details of the pivot joint;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the chair including the pivot oint, and Fig. 5, is a similar view showing the parts in another position.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 is a body portion of the usual form attached to the rockers 2, 2. In describing the means by which the rear extensions of the rockers are arranged to fold back, I shall confine my description to one rocker since the other is similar to it. The rocker 2 is divided, as shown, at a point directly b"hind the body portion 1, of the chair. This division is clearly shown in Fig. 4 and is in the form of a splice, the fixed portion of the rocker, 2, and the rear extension, 2, each having a projection, respectively 3 and 4, which abut when the rocker member 2 is in the normal rocking position.

At each side of the fixed portion 2 of the rocker is attached a metal plate 5, having portions extending rearwardly beyond the end of the fixed portion 2 of the rocker. Between the extended portions of the plates 5, 5 the inner end of the rocker member 2 fits, and a pin 6 passing through the plates 5, 5 and the member 2, holds the latter pivoted between the plates. Thus the outer end of the member 2 may swing upwardly around the pivot pin 6 until it meets the rear of the body portion 1, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the projection 4: acts as a foot to prevent the chair from tilting backward. The abutting projections, 3 and 4:, limit the downward swing of the member 2 and maintain it in proper alinement with respect to the fixed portion 2 of the rocker.

The means whereby the member 2 is locked in the several positions against the stresses occurring during the occupancy of the chair are as follows: The member 2 carries the ins 7 and 8 which extend beyond the sides of the rocker and into the curved slots 9 and 10 in the plates 5, 5. The slots 9 and 10 have ofl'set pockets 9 and 9, and 10 and 10, respectively, at their ends, into which the pins 7 and 8 fit, thereby locking the member 2 against further movement when in either position. In order that the pins may enter the pockets, a slight longitudinal motion of the member 2 relative to the plates 5, 5 and the pin 6 is necessary and allowance for this motion is made by shaping the hole 11 in the member 2, through which the pin 6 passes. in the form of a slot, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Allowance is alsomade for the same purpose between the rocker sections 2 and 2, as shown at 11. When it is desired to free the pins 7 and 8 from the pockets 9 and 10 it is only necessary to move the member 2 forward, after which the pins will slide freely in the slots and permit the rocker member to be turned on its pivot 6 to the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 4, and in Fig. 5; bringing the pins into engagement with the pockets 9 and 10. In order to prevent the pins 7 and 8 accidentally slipping from their pockets when the member 2 is in either position, springs 12 are placed in the shallow niches 14 in the sides of the member 2. These springs bear against the pin 6 and tend to hold the member 2 firmly and prevent accidental movement thereof, inward or downward, necessary to free the pins 7 and 8 from the pockets of the slots.

As shown by the full lines in Fig. 4, the rocker member 2 is in the normal rocking position. When it is desired to convert the chair into the fixed form shown in Fig. 2 it is only necessary to push the member 2 inward against the pressure of the springs 12 to release the pins 7 and 8 from the pockets 9 and 10, after which the member may be turned up, the pins sliding in the slots and taking the positions in the pockets 9 and 10 at the other ends, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. A and in Fig. 5. In this position the springs 12 will assume a substantially horizontal position above the pin 6, thus tending to hold the pins 7 and 8 in their pockets. To return the member 2 to the normal position, it must first be pushed downward to free the pins 7 and 8 from their pockets 9 it can be easily turned on the pivot pin 6.

I claim:

1. A rocking chair comprising a body por tion, rockers therefor; each of said rockers being made in two sections pivotally connected together whereby the movable rear sections or extensions thereof are, foldable against the body portion of the chair, a

ivot pin carried by one section of each rocker upon which the other section may turn; one of said sections being slotted directly adjacent the pivot point, means for holding the slotted member in operative e'ngagement with the pivot pin; the latter occupying one end of the slot, and means cooperating with said holding means for retaining the movable sections in the rocking and non-rocking positions; said extensions .being arranged for movement with respect to the fixed rocker portions radially with respect to the axis of rotation independently of their swinging movement.

2. A rocking chair comprising a body portion, rockers therefor; each of said rockers being made in two sections pivotally connected together and the movable rear sections or extensions thereof being foldable against the body portion of the chair, a pivot pin carried by one section of each rocker upon which the other section may turn; one of said sections being slotted di rectly adjacent the pivot point, a spring for holding the slotted member in operative en gagement with the pivot pin; the latter occupying one end of the slot and means 00- operating with said spring for retaining the movable sections in the rocking and nonrocking positions; said extensions being arranged for movement with respect to the fixed rocker portions radially with respect to the axis of rotation independently of their swinging movement.

3. A rocking chair comprising a body portion, rockers therefor; each of said rockers being made in two sections pivotally connected together whereby the movable rear sections or extensions thereof are foldable against the body portion of the chair, a

ivot pin carried by one section of each rocker upon which the other section may turn; one of said sections being slotted di rectly adjacent the pivot point, means for holding the slotted member in operative engagement with the pivot pin, and fixed pins and 10 after which 4. A rocking chair comprising a body portion, a pair of rockers; each of said rockers being made in two sections pivotally oonnected together and the rear sections thereof being foldable against the body portion of the chair, means for holding the foldable portions of said rockers in their several positions, and locking means for retaining them in such positions; said movable portions of the rockers being capable of movement with respect to the fixed rocker por- .tions independently of the swinging move ment of said sections prior to from one position to another.

5. A rocking chair comprising abody portion and rockers, each of said rockers being made in two sections pivotally connectedtoshifting them gether, plates carried by the fixed rocker" sections and forming housings to receive the inner ends of the swinging sections, pivot pins for said swinging sections carried by the plates; said plates being slotted, pins carried by said swinging sections and having their ends adapted to engage said slots; said slots having pockets at their ends into which the ends of said pins may be shifted, and provision for movement between said parts whereby the pins may be released from said pockets to permit swinging movement of the pivoted sections. I

6. A rocking chair comprising a body portion and rockers, each of said rockers being made in two sections pivotally connected together, plates carried by the fixed rocker sections and forming housings to receive the innerends of the swinging sections, pivot pins for said swinging sections carried by the plates; said plates being slotted, pins carried by said swinging sections and having their ends adapted to engage said slots; said slots having pockets at their ends into which said pins maybe shifted, means for holding said pins in the pockets of the slots,

and provision for movement between said said plates, pivot pins connecting the swinging portion of the rockers to the plates, pins carried by the rear sections and extending between said plates; said plates having slots in which said pins may move and the slots having pockets at their ends to receive the ends of said pins, provision for motion between the rear sections and the fixed portions of the rockers, and tension means disposed between the rear sections and the pivot pins and serving to hold the pins of the rear sections in the pockets of the slots.

8. A rocking chair comprising a body portion with legs, rockers secured to said legs, each of said rockers being made in two sections pivotally connected together, plates at tached to the main portion of the rockers and extending rearwardly; the swinging portion of the rockers being embraced by said plates, a plurality of pins extending between each set of said plates; one pm of each set acting as a pivotal support for said rear sections; said plates having slots in which said other pins may move and the slots having pockets at their ends t receive the ends of said pins, provision for motion between the rear sections and the pivot pin and between the plates and the pins carried by said rear sections, and springs disposed between the rear sections and the pivot pins and serving to hold the pins of the rear sections in the pockets of the slots.

CHESTER RICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Uommisstoner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

